WOW! Wild Over Work

1. WOW! Wild Over Work

2. Workshop Goals • To understand the foundation of WOW! • To understand the components of the WOW !curriculum guide • To experience activities from WOW! • To leave feeling “wild over work!”

3. WOW! is for School-Age Kids • Age group (K-6) • Settings • 4-H Clubs • Afterschool Programs • Classrooms

4. What is Workforce Preparation? • Process of preparing to enter the workforce • Series of learning experiences starting in early childhood and continuing throughout adult life • Prepares the way for later career decision making

5. Rationale for Design • Based on what we know about: • Youth development • Curriculum development • Skills needed for the workforce • Career development

6. What is Developmentally Appropriate? • Considers the whole child • Integrates curriculum domains • Focus is active vs. passive • Allows work in small groups • Develops social interaction skills • Contains relevant, meaningful and engaging content • Fosters positive attitudes toward learning • Allows for acquisition of important knowledge and skills

7. The future is now . . . A future president of the United States is in a classroom today. Seated next to her may be a future salesperson, a manager of a manufacturing plant, a journalist, a doctor, a steelworker and a scientist. These children need to learn vital skills now so they are prepared for whatever profession they choose later in life. National School-to-Work Learning and Information Center

8. Career Developmental Tasks for School-Age Children • Develop self-awareness of interests, values, abilities, and personal qualities. • Become aware of career options and explore a variety of options. • Acquire knowledge of workers and their role and appreciate the value of work.

9. Career Developmental Tasks for School-Age Children • Develop attitudes that support competence, cooperation, and achievement. • Develop an understanding of the relationship of interests and values to occupational choices. • Learn decision-making strategies.

10. Important Points to Consider • Focus on skills that would contribute to success in any job. • Take into account how children develop and learn. • Make tasks meaningful now and to future success. • Emphasize exposure to options vs. making final choices.

11. Focus on Employability Skills • Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills - SCANS (1991) • Workforce Competencies • information, resources, interpersonal skills, systems, and technology • Foundation Skills • basic skills, thinking skills and personal qualities

12. WOW! Goals • Develop an awareness of the wide range of career options available and the education and skills required for them. • Develop an understanding of self as a worker and in relation to potential career choices. • Develop attitudes of respect and appreciation toward all workers and their contributions to society. • Develop skills for exploring potential career choices in greater depth. • Develop avision for “seeing myself in the future.”

13. WOW! Goal #1: Awareness • Develop an awareness of the wide range of career options available and the education and skills required for them. WOW! Goal #2: Self • Develop an understanding of self as a worker and in relation to potential career choices.

14. WOW! Goal #3: Attitudes • Develop attitudes of respect and appreciation toward all workers and their contributions to society. WOW! Goal #4: Skills • Develop skills for exploring potential career choices in greater depth.

15. WOW! Goal #5: Vision • Develop a vision for “seeing myself in the future.”

16. Goals WOW! Curriculum Themes

17. WOW! Big Ideas • All work is valuable. • Not all work is paid. • Workforce skills are those that can be applied in many settings. • It’s important to explore many options. • People can match their skills interests to find jobs they can do. • Many factors influence future career decisions.

18. Activity Design • Group activities led by adult • Developmentally appropriate for elementary-age children • Incorporate workforce competencies and foundation skills in order to do the activity • Help children learn about options

19. About the Activities • Activities do not require a specific sequence . . . • Good for those who want to integrate with an existing program • Work for those who have experience planning & leading group activities • More difficult for those who need a more structured experience

20. Some can be completed easily in one session. Others need time for two or more sessions. All can be expanded with extension activities. About the Activities

21. Caution: If you adapt . . . • Workforce skills and competencies are embedded in the activity - don’t lose them in the process of making changes. • Without discussion (“Talking it Over”), the connections to goals and big ideas may not happen.

22. Use the Sandwich Approach • With guest speakers and field trips, use the sandwich approach: • Preparation (Bread) • Experience (Filling) • Reflection and Follow-Up (Bread) The filling is tasty, but the bread holds the “learning sandwich” together.

23. How You Can Use WOW! • Integrate activities into existing content or programs; give new focus to current programs. • Create new programs or work with new audiences. • Use as a stepping stone for other ideas.

24. Delivery Models • School classroom • teacher-led • volunteer-led • agent-led • Special interest programs • Afterschool child care & clubs • Summer camps • Service-learning experience for high school or college students

25. WOW! Putting It All Together • Portfolio Process • Collect • Reflect • Select

26. Career Coaches • College students facilitating afterschool career clubs for elementary students • Service-learning model for college students • Asset-building model for elementary students

27. How You Can Use WOW! • Help leaders see how they can integrate activities into existing 4-H projects: • Getting the Job Done • Wow! What I Do Well • Inquiring Minds Want to Know • Only the Shadow Knows • Speech! Speech!

28. Program Development Recommendations • Target elementary students. • Capitalize on high interest. • Create career-rich learning environments. • Encourage active exploration.

29. Program Development Recommendations • Provide exposure to role models. • Emphasize community service and volunteer experiences. • Once is not enough. • Use the media.

30. My Future(class poem written by 3rd grade students) When I grow up I think that I Could fly an airplane in the sky. Or be a doctor dressed in white And make the people feel all right. I might build things with my hands Or cook food with pots and pans. I could teach or work in a store Or put some carpet on the floor. Right now I don’t know what I’ll be. But whatever it is, it’s up to me.